All Music Guide:

It wasn't until she was 23, when she heard Sleater-Kinney for the first time, that Marnie Stern's life began to take her in the direction of the noise- and punk-inspired experimental rock that would later define her music. She soon began learning finger-tapping techniques on her electric guitar and assiduously began practicing and recording songs until she had enough for a demo. Stern sent the tape to Kill Rock Stars, which immediately signed the young singer/guitarist to their 5RC imprint. The folding of the company, after the departure of founder Slim Moon in 2006, caused a slight delay in the release of her debut, In Advance of the Broken Arm, but the record, whose songs had been written over a period of more than two years in Stern's Upper East Side New York apartment, and featured drums from Hella's Zach Hill, finally came out in early 2007. Stern took somewhat less time to record her follow-up, releasing This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It in 2008. Her self-titled third album was released by Kill Rock Stars in 2010. Hill eventually left her backing band, but would be replaced by Oneida drummer Kid Millions, who made his first appearance on Stern's looser and more expansive fourth album, The Chronicles of Marnia.

Wikipedia:

Marnie Stern is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. She has garnered acclaim for her technical skill and tapping style of guitar play. Stern is also a current member of the The 8G Band from the show Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Musical career[edit]

In early 2007, Kill Rock Stars released Stern's debut CD, In Advance of the Broken Arm. It was well received by critics, and most favorably by The New York Times, citing it as "The year's most exciting rock 'n' roll album." In mid 2007, Stern toured the U.S. and UK with Hella's Zach Hill and The Advantage's Robby Moncrieff, in support of her debut album. In 2008, Stern was named one of Venus Zine's "Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time", Spring 2008 issue and was nominated "Female Artist of the Year" and "Punk Album of the Year" for the 2008 Plug Music Awards.

Marnie Stern's second album, entitled This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, was released October 7, 2008. Upon release, it garnered the title of "Best New Music" as well as No. 44 on "The 50 Best Albums of 2008" from Pitchfork Media. Stern toured Europe and the U.S. in support of This Is It with former U.S. Maple guitarist Mark Shippy, bassist recruit Malia James, and a varying line-up of drummers.

Backed by bass player Nithin Kalvakota and former Tera Melos drummer Vincent Rogers, Stern spent most of 2010 and 2011 touring North America, Europe, and Australia in support of her self-titled third album. Highlights include several winter festivals in Europe as well as support dates with the Flaming Lips. She has been chosen by Les Savy Fav to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England. In 2011, Stern was named one of Elle Magazines "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists", and was chosen as a voter on a panel of top guitarists and other experts for "Rolling Stone Magazine's" "100 Greatest Guitarists List'' In 2012, she was named No. 87 on Spin Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time

In December 2012, it was announced that her next album entitled "The Chronicles of Marnia" would be released on Kill Rock Stars. The title track of the album was debuted that same week on the website of Spin Magazine in an article about Stern. On March 4th, 2013, "The Chronicles of Marnia" was made available exclusively on NPR's First Listen. During 2013's SXSW she was featured in ABC News' 7 Emerging Artists on the Rise article. On March 22, 2013, Stern was featured on the front cover of The Guardian. Stern started off as a fill-in guitar player when bandleader Fred Armisen was absent, but she is now regular member of the Late Night house band.

^"New CDs". The New York Times. February 26, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2010.^"Marnie Stern: In Advance Of The Broken Arm (2007): Reviews". Metacritic.com. 2007-02-20. Retrieved 2013-03-19.^The Greatest Female Guitarists Of All Time, Venus Zine^"PLUG: Independent Music Awards". Plugawards.com. Retrieved 2009-03-28.^Kill Rock Stars announces new album Retrieved on July 9, 2008.^"Pitchfork: Marnie Stern: This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That". Pitchforkmedia.com. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-03-28.^"ATP Nightmare Before Christmas". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 2013-03-19.^Julie Vadnal (2009-08-21). "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists". ELLE. Retrieved 2013-03-19.^"100 Greatest Guitarists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-03-19.^"SPIN's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time | SPIN | Best of SPIN | All Time". SPIN. 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2013-03-19.^"NEW MARNIE STERN ALBUM, THE CHRONICLES OF MARNIA, OUT 3/19/2013!". Kill Rock Stars. Retrieved 19 March 2013.^Bevan, David. "Inside Marnie Stern's 'Less Nutso' New Album 'The Chronicles of Marnia'". Spin Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2013.^Johnston, Maura. "First Listen: Marnie Stern, 'The Chronicles Of Marnia'". NPR. Retrieved 19 March 2013.^Wong, Mimi. "SXSW 2013 Music Picks: 7 Emerging Artists on the Rise". Retrieved 19 March 2013.

Influences[edit]

Stern has cited many musical influences that contribute to her sound, including Hella, King Crimson, Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Yoko Ono, Don Caballero, U.S. Maple, Royal Trux, Television, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and Talking Heads.

^"Marnie Stern's guitar-intensive songs". The New Yorker. January 3, 2011.